Evaluation of a real-time PCR and a loop-mediated isothermal amplification for detection of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni in plant tissue samples.

Operational capacity of real-time PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) diagnostic assays for detection of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni was established in a ring-test involving four laboratories. Symptomatic and healthy almond leaf samples with two methods of sample preparation were analyzed. Kappa coefficient, sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios and post-test probability of detection were estimated to manage the risk associated with the use of the two methods.